Loader machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic loading machine is provided for aligning and loading a predetermined amount of elongated strips of product into individual containers wherein batches of elongated strips are periodically discharged from a product feed. A turret assembly is provided which has a plurality of buckets and each of the batches from the product feed is received by a separate bucket. The turret assembly is continuously vibrated and, as each bucket moves through a horizontal path, the batches of elongated strips carried therein become somewhat more aligned. The strips are dropped out of the buckets onto a flight conveyor and are conveyed to a discharge point where each batch is transferred into a separate container.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 788,589, filedNov. 6, 1991 pending.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to a loading machine which is used toalign and load predetermined amounts of elongated strips of product intoindividual containers. More specifically, this invention relates to anautomatic tray loading machine which may be used for aligning andloading batches of licorice sticks into individual trays.

The invention generally relates to elongated strips of product which arereleased in batches from an automatic weighing machine or other batchproduct feed. When used for loading licorice sticks, the invention isused in conjunction with an automatic weighing machine, which dischargesa predetermined weight of licorice strips, which are received by theinstant invention, are aligned into generally parallel relationship aswell as having the ends of the licorice sticks generally aligned andthereafter loaded into individual trays.

In the general sense, the invention is capable of use in conjunctionwith various types of elongated strips of product including french friedpotatoes, jerky, vegetables such as carrots and celery, and licorice. Inthe specific case of licorice, it is important that most of thecomponents of the apparatus which handle the licorice sticks arecontinually vibrated to provide a live surface which helps to align thelicorice sticks and which prevents the licorice sticks from sticking tothe surfaces of the apparatus.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an automatic loadingmachine capable of aligning and loading predetermined amounts ofelongated strips of product into individual containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic loadingmachine for aligning and loading a predetermined weight of licoricesticks into individual trays wherein surfaces of the apparatus areconstantly being vibrated as the licorice sticks are handled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic loadingapparatus capable of operating on a continuous feed basis whereinbatches of elongated strips of product are continuously fed into theapparatus and are continuously aligned and loaded into individualcontainers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of some of the internal components of themachine with much of the superstructure not shown for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, showing some of the internalcomponents of the machine, with portions of the machine not shown forclarity;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the discharge portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view showing the air cylinders and linkagecontrolling the bucket doors;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view showing the air cylinder and linkagecontrolling an upper level bucket door;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view showing the air cylinder and linkagefor controlling a lower level bucket door;

FIG. 12 is a top elevational view of a portion of the flight conveyorapparatus;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a portion of the flight conveyorapparatus shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of alternate bucket design for use in theapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, a loading machine shown generally as 10 is shownfor receiving elongated strips of material 11 from an automatic weighingmachine or other product feed which is not shown. The automatic weighingmachine or other product feed device is not a subject of this invention.As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined feed chute means 12 is provided whichreceives batches of licorice sticks discharged from the automaticweighing machine (not shown) and feeds each batch into an individualbucket such as bucket 21 as described in greater detail below. Eachindividual batch of licorice sticks received by the loading apparatus 10from feed chute means 12 is loaded into an individual tray such as tray91.1 as described in detail below.

A turret assembly shown generally as 20 is provided which is adapted torotate about a vertical axis which forms the center of the circular pathrepresented by arrow 19. Turret assembly 20 includes a plurality ofbuckets including an upper level of buckets 21-25 and a lower level ofbuckets 31-35, of which only lower buckets 32 and 33 can be seen clearlyin FIG. 1. The side walls of lower bucket 34 are shown in phantom inFIG. 1. It is within the scope of this invention to use a single levelof buckets, but in the case of loading licorice sticks, it is preferredto use two levels of buckets.

As described in greater detail below, as turret assembly 20 rotates inthe direction shown by arrow 19, a batch of licorice sticks will bedischarged from feed chute means 12 into bucket 21 as shown by arrow 13.When bucket 21 rotates counterclockwise through about 288° to theposition shown by bucket 22, the contents of the bucket will bedischarged to the lower bucket as shown by arrow 14. The licorice sticksdischarged as shown by arrow 14 are carried counterclockwise throughabout 288° along the path shown by arrow 19 to the position shown bylower bucket 33 and the contents are discharged as shown by arrow 15onto flight conveyor shown generally as 70. The licorice strips are thenadvanced by flight conveyor and ultimately discharged into tray 91.1along the path shown by arrow 16.

Flight conveyor 70 has a feed end represented by the circle shown as 71and a discharge end shown generally by the circle 72. As shown ingreater detail below, flight conveyor 70 is an endless conveyor, with amajor portion not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity.

A tray conveyor shown generally as 90 keeps a steady supply ofindividual trays such as 91 moving in the direction of arrow 92 at asynchronized speed and synchronized intervals with flight conveyor 70 toreadily accept batches of licorice sticks being discharged along thepath shown by arrow 16.

The turret assembly 20 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.3 is a plan view and FIG. 4 is a view on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3. Asshown in FIG. 3, bucket 21 is in essentially the same position shown asin FIG. 1 and is ready to receive a batch of licorice sticks. Bucket 22is in position to drop its contents into lower bucket 32 as shown inFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, bucket 22 is in the process of unloading abatch of licorice sticks into lower bucket 32. As turret assembly 20continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction shown by arrow 19,bucket 22 will advance to the position of bucket 21, and during thisadvancement, door 52 at the bottom of bucket 22 closes so that bucket 22is ready to receive a batch of licorice sticks from the feed chute means12. Referring to FIG. 4, lower bucket 33 is in the process of dropping abatch of licorice sticks onto flight conveyor 70 along the path shown byarrow 15. Door 53 forming the bottom of bucket 33 is open at thisposition of bucket 33 and closes as bucket 33 advances to the positionoccupied by bucket 32, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, so that it will beclosed in order to receive a batch of licorice of sticks dropped fromthe upper level of buckets.

As shown best in FIG. 4, bucket 23 has side walls 23.1 and 23.2 whichare inclined inwardly in an downward direction. The side walls of allother buckets are similarly inclined inwardly in a downward direction.The incline of the side walls tends to help align the licorice sticks orother elongated strips of product.

Referring to FIG. 2, a side elevational view is shown of the turretassembly 20 and some related parts of the apparatus. Also shown in FIG.2 are the actuators for the bucket doors. These actuators have beendeleted from FIG. 1 in the interest of clarity. As shown in FIG. 2,bucket 21 is shown with its door 51 in the open position just prior todoor 51 being closed. An air cylinder 51.1 is mounted by pin 51.2 to aframe piece 51.3 of turret 20. Air cylinder 51.1 drives a set of linkagearms 51.4, 51.5, 51.6, and 51.7 to open and close door 51. Linkage arms51.4-51.7 comprise an over the center knuckle joint to keep door 51locked closed unless it is opened by the actuation of air cylinder 51.1.This feature is important because, as described below, the entire turretmechanism 20 is being constantly vibrated when the apparatus is inoperation and it is important to avoid inadvertent opening of the bucketdoors caused by vibration. Each of the buckets in the apparatus has itsown air cylinder and over the center knuckle joint linkage to open andclose the door. As shown in FIG. 2, air cylinder 52.1 is used to actuatedoor 52 which forms the bottom of bucket 22. Air cylinder 63.1 is usedto actuate door 63 which forms the bottom of bucket 33. Air cylinder62.1 is used to actuate door 62 which forms the bottom of bucket 32.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the bottom 62 of bucket 32 is inclined upwardlyan angle of 10° from the horizontal in the direction of travel of bucket32. The incline helps align individual licorice sticks lengthwise byurging licorice sticks towards the rear wall 32.9 of bucket 32.

As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, turret assembly 20 is connected to androtates with flight conveyor sprocket 73. Sprocket 73 operates on thecircular path 71 depicted in FIG. 1. Turret 20 is connected to flightconveyor sprocket 73 by connecting brackets 20.1 and 20.2. By connectingturret 20 to flight conveyor sprocket 73, the buckets of the turretassembly are aligned with individual flights 77 of flight conveyor 70.

Although turret 20 is mounted to flight conveyor sprocket 30 and rotateswith flight conveyor sprocket 30, turret 20 is free to move up and downrelative to flight conveyor sprocket 73. As shown in FIG. 4, the weightof turret 20 is carried by shaft 20.3, which is vibrated upwardly anddownwardly as shown by arrows 20.4. The vibration is caused by turretassembly vibration means shown generally as 80. Vibration means 80includes an eccentric 81 which drives a link 82 connected to shaft 20.4.Eccentric 81 is driven by motor 83, belt 84 and drive wheel 85 shownbest in FIG. 2. The stroke of the vibration is approximately 3/16 of aninch and the speed is adjustable but works well for batches of licoricesticks at approximately 300 rpm. The vibration is being constantlyapplied to the turret assembly 20 during operation of the machine.

Flight conveyor means 70 includes a horizontal chain 74 which is drivenby a conveyor drive mechanism 75 shown best in FIG. 6. The drivemechanism 75 includes a motor 75.1, belt 75.2, pulley 75.3 and gear case75.4 and output shaft 75.5 which continuously drives sprocket 75.6 shownschematically in FIG. 6 in the direction shown by arrow 75.7. Sprocket75.6 drives chain 74 which in turn causes sprocket 73 to rotate in thedirection shown by arrow 73.1 in FIG. 5. A flight timing sensor 76 (FIG.5) senses the passage of the individual flights 77 and signals theautomatic scale to drop a batch of licorice sticks at the correct timeto land in a bucket.

Flight conveyor means 70 includes a plurality of individual flights 77as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each flight is a horizontal blade 77.1 whichextends outwardly a distance to nearly touch the outer guide 78 of theflight conveyor 70.

Between each adjacent pair of flights 77, an adjustable inner guide 101is provided. Adjustable inner guide 101 forms a wall between twoadjacent flights 77. The purpose of adjustable inner guide 101 is tonarrow the width of the pocket formed by two adjacent flights as thebatches of licorice sticks move along the flight conveyor assemblytowards the point of discharge shown in FIG. 1 by arrow 16. An innerguide rail 105 is provided which extends from sprocket 73 to thedischarge point of flight conveyor assembly 70. Guide rail 105 is formedat a slight angle with chain 74 of between 3° and 5° to gently urge theadjustable guide 101 to form a narrower and narrower pocket for thebatch of licorice sticks.

As shown best in FIG. 12, adjustable inner guide 101 extendshorizontally between adjacent flights 77a and 77b. Guide 101 isconnected to roller 102 through arms 103 and 104. Arms 103 and 104 arefree to move relative to flight 77a. As shown in FIG. 5, as roller 102contacts the inner guide rail 105, adjustable inner guide 101 is urgedin the direction of arrow 106 so that the pocket formed between adjacentflights 77 becomes narrower as the discharge point 79.2 is approached.In the case of batches of licorice sticks, the width of the pocket isreduced from 43/4" to 33/8" as the flights go down the length of innerguide rail 105 and as the batches of licorice sticks are carried fromthe output of the turret assembly 20 to the product discharge point79.2.

A flat pan 79 forms a part of the flight conveyor assembly 70. Pan 79extends from just downstream of the discharge point of licorice sticksdropped from turret assembly 20, as shown by reference 79.1 (FIG. 1),and extends to the discharge point 79.2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. Pan 79is continuously vibrated by pan vibration means 110 which oscillates inthe direction of arrows 111 shown in FIG. 1. An arm 112 is connected topan 79 through a pin 113. The arm 112 which induces the vibration intopan 79 is oriented at an angle of approximately 40° from the horizontal,which has the effect of inducing some up and down vibration to pan 79but also a considerable amount of horizontal vibration in the directionof travel of the batches of licorice sticks. The horizontal accelerationinduced to pan 79 tends to urge each of the sticks back towards a flight77 and thereby tends to align the licorice sticks lengthwise as shown inFIG. 1. The pan vibration means includes an eccentric 114 (FIGS. 1 and2) which is driven by a motor (not shown). When the apparatus is usedfor loading licorice sticks, eccentric 114 has a stroke of approximately3/16" and is operated at approximately 300 rpm.

Referring to FIG. 8, a two piece feed chute means is shown whichincludes a lower section 12.1 which is inclined at approximately 30°above the horizontal and a second piece 12.2 which is inclined atapproximately 60° to the horizontal. Upper piece 12.2 is intended toreceive the batches of licorice sticks discharged downwardly from anautomatic weighing machine (not shown). The use of a two piece feedchute means wherein the two pieces are formed at an angle to each othertends to help the licorice sticks make the transition from a verticalorientation as discharged from the automatic weighing machine to ahorizontal orientation after being fed into buckets 21-25.

FIG. 8 also shows guide rail 105, adjustable inner guide 101, and abatch of licorice sticks 11 moving down the flight conveyor assembly 70.

A tray conveyor 90 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a chain 93 with lugs 94for conveying individual formed trays 91. Lugs 94 are spaced the samepitch as the flights 77 of flight conveyor means 70. Tray conveyor chain93 is mounted under pan 79 so that the formed trays 91 are conveyeddirectly under the flight pockets and under pan 79 until the dischargepoint 79.2 of pan 79 is reached (FIG. 7). Tray conveyor means 90 extendssufficiently far past the end 79.2 of pan 79 so that the filled traysare conveyed free of the flights. Tray conveyor 90 is driven at acontinuous speed by the main drive system and is timed to the speed offlights 77. A discharge means 99 is formed by the interaction of the endof pan 79 and the forward motion of flight 77 which causes batch 11 oflicorice to drop into tray 91.1.

A tray former (not shown) as known in the prior art may be used inconjunction with the apparatus disclosed herein. The tray formerutilizes a vacuum to pick off a tray blank from a supply stack and formsa tray. The tray former only makes trays when needed.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show in somewhat greater detail the operation of thebucket door means shown in less detail in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 10,air cylinder 51.1 is mounted to turret frame 51.3 by pin 51.2. A doubleacting piston 51.9 is actuated by air pressure through lines 51.8 androtates linkage arms 51.4-51.7 from the positions shown in FIG. 10 tothe positions shown in phantom in FIG. 10. Door 51 is rectangular andpivots about edge 51.05 and is driven to its open position when thelinkage arms are driven to their position shown in phantom in FIG. 10.This linkage system is referred to as an over-the-center knuckle jointwhich provides a positive closure for door 51 when the linkage arms arein their position shown in FIG. 10. Since the buckets are continuouslyvibrated, a positive system is required for opening and closing thebucket doors, which is provided by the system shown in FIGS. 9-11. Asshown in FIG. 11, cylinder 63.1 is used to open and close door 63 ofbucket 33. Again, a double acting piston 63.9 is actuated by airpressure being delivered to one of ports 63.8. Piston 63.9 driveslinkage arms 63.4, 63.5 and 63.6 from the position shown in FIG. 11 tothe position shown in phantom in FIG. 11. When the linkage arms aremoved to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 11, door 63 is open. Thelinkage system of FIG. 11 also utilizes an over-the-center knuckle jointwhich positively keeps door 63 closed unless by opened by air cylinder63.1. FIG. 9 schematically shows the mounting of air cylinder 62.1 whichcontrols door 62 of bucket 32 and cylinder 52.1 which controls door 52of bucket 22.

The bucket doors are opened at the proper time by a stationary cam 120(FIG. 5) as the air valves such as 121 come by. Air lines 122 for eachair cylinder extend downwardly from turret 20 through holes 123 formedin sprocket 73.

FIG. 13 shows adjustable inner guide 101 and how adjustable guide 101has a longitudinal adjustment to allow the guide 101 to continuouslytraverse the circular and inclined path shown generally in FIG. 1.Adjustable inner guide 101 has between each pair of flights 77 a secondplate 101.1. Second plate 101.1 is attached to guide 101 in a manner toallow relative sliding in a horizontal direction between plates 101.1and 101. A pair of studs 101.2 and 101.3 are carried by guide 101 andride in longitudinal slits 101.5 and 101.6 formed in plate 101.1. Inthis fashion, inner guides 101 are adjustable in their horizontal lengthto accommodate the motion of flight conveyor 77 around the circularturns at each end of the flight conveyor's path.

FIG. 14 shows an alternate embodiment of a bucket 222 wherein a movablefront wall 222.1 is provided. Front wall 222.1 is carried by the piston223 of air cylinder 224. Front wall 222.1 may be driven towards rearwall 222.2 to the position shown in phantom in FIG. 14 by actuating aircylinder 224, thereby aligning lengthwise the batch of licorice sticks11.

In operation, the flight conveyor means 70 and turret assembly areactuated and will run continuously empty until a signal is given to theautomatic weighing machine to drop a batch of licorice sticks at theproper time in relationship to the flights of conveyor 70 and to thebuckets of turret assembly 20. In operation, the scale will discharge aseparate batch of licorice sticks into buckets 21-25 as turret assembly20 rotates. The upper level of buckets continuously drop theirrespective batches of licorice sticks to the lower level of buckets andeach bucket receives a fresh batch of licorice sticks as it passes underfeed chute 12. As the batch of licorice sticks is carried around throughan arc of approximately 288° in the upper level of buckets, the batch isconstantly vibrated and sticks which are not parallel tend to becomemore parallel and tend to become aligned lengthwise. As the batches oflicorice sticks are dropped from the upper buckets into the lowerbuckets, the sticks are again constantly being vibrated through theirsecond rotation through approximately 288°. In the lower level ofbuckets, the licorice sticks are also urged downwardly toward the rearwall by the incline of the floor of the lower buckets and tend to becomesomewhat more aligned lengthwise.

As each batch of licorice sticks is discharged from a lower bucket ontothe flight conveyor, it is moved forward by one of the flights and on tothe vibrating pan assembly. As the batch of licorice sticks is pusheddown the flight conveyor assembly by one of the flights, the batch isfurther vibrated. The vibration includes an element of verticalvibration and an element of horizontal vibration which tends to furtheralign the licorice sticks lengthwise. As the batch of licorice sticksmoves down the flight conveyor, the batch is squeezed together into atighter bundle by the inward motion of the adjustable inner guide sothat, when the batch of licorice sticks reaches the discharge point, itfits easily into a single tray.

The loader apparatus is therefore capable of operating automatically andcontinuously to receive weighted batches of product from an automaticweighing machine and to continuously load such batches into anindividual container.

What is claimed is:
 1. In an automatic loading apparatus for aligningand loading a predetermined amount of elongated strips of product intoindividual containers wherein batches of elongated strips areperiodically discharged from a product feed, the improvementcomprising:turret assembly means having a plurality of buckets, whereinsaid buckets move through a horizontal path, and wherein each of saidbatches from said product feed is received by a separate one of saidbuckets, turret vibration means for vibrating said turret assembly meansto cause said batches of elongated strips to become somewhat morealigned, and bucket door means formed in each of said buckets forperiodically emptying said batches from said buckets.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said turret assembly means has at least two levels ofbuckets, one above the other, wherein each level of buckets follows acircular path, and wherein said upper level of buckets periodicallyempties its batch of elongated strips into a bucket moving on said lowerlevel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said buckets on saidlower level has a bottom which is inclined upwardly in the direction oftravel of said bucket.
 4. An automatic loading apparatus for aligningand loading a predetermined amount of elongated strips of product intoindividual containers wherein batches of elongated strips areperiodically discharged from a product feed, comprising:turret assemblymeans adapted to rotate about a vertical axis, having a plurality ofbuckets arranged in a path around said vertical axis, wherein each ofsaid batches from the product feed is fed into a separate one of saidbuckets, turret vibration means for vibrating said turret assembly meansto cause said batches of elongated strips to become somewhat morealigned, bucket door means formed in each of said buckets forperiodically emptyinq said batches from said buckets, flight conveyormeans, having a horizontal pan and a plurality of flights, wherein eachof said buckets empties its batch onto said pan between adjacentflights, pan vibrating means for vibrating said pan to cause furtheralignment of said elongated strips, and discharge means for transferringeach of said batches from said flight conveyor means into a separatecontainer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said turret assemblymeans has an upper and lower level of buckets, and wherein said bucketson the upper level periodically empty their contents into a bucket onsaid lower level, and wherein said buckets on said lower levelperiodically empty their contents onto said flight conveyor means. 6.The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising an adjustable inner guidemeans for said flight conveyor means for gradually narrowing the pocketformed between adjacent flights of said flight conveyor means.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said bucket door means includes a dooractuating means wherein an over the center knuckle joint linkage isdriven by an air cylinder.